Homschool Room Remix for 2013/2014

 Well we have revamped our homeschool room last year we went from the dinning room to the garage.  We are still in the garage however I changed a few things about the homeschool room. In addition to that I have a new office. To read about that transition check back here. 

2013/2014 Fourth Grade Curriculum Choices- New Adventures

This year I decided to seek out the help of a guide. I am all about making sur that if my child has to go back to public school that he is on or above grade level.  So when I saw Selena's Curriculum Choices 2013/2014... she sparked a new adventure to find a guide to use I choose Making the Grade Everything your 4th Grader Needs to Know.  The greatest thing about this Book is that it has actual lessons...  ah-ha I can slip in a lesson in a workbox a few times a week.  Make sure that you also visit Selena's Review of The Core Knowlege Series that she is using to have a clear path.  I'm considering purchasing the Kindle Series for that series due to space and budget. 

2013/2014 Seventh Grade Curriculum Choices- The Final Cut

I'm overly excited about the upcoming school year.  We have moved things around a little.... I finally have an office space and today it is clean and organized! Yeah me....
Now to share with you this summer long hunt for curriculum for four children.  I will begin with the oldest.  My seventh grade son.  He will be making leaps and bounds.  The thing I love most is that he helped pick things out that he is interested in.  I love homeschooling.  So peak below to see how I am homeschooling him for close to free.... with the exception of ink, paper and a lot of hours of searching.  The money I save will allow me to place them in local extracurricular activities. (The actual textbooks are books that we have already or will borrow from library.  I did purchase a few... Amazon is great I always have a save for later cart)

What's In My Home School Binder?

Welcome to all of you who are coming here from Colorful Bloggers Network!

It's almost time for the new school year to start and I just finished with most of my planning. I have created a binder to keep me organized and focused.  I will share more about how I'm using this note book at a latter date.  For now Let's talk about what's in my homeschool binder.

First of all I went and got a  2" binder, two packs of five count tab dividers and grabbed my  Dymo Personal Label Maker.  Then I collected all of the various free organizational and planning tools that I've come across over the last few months.  I narrowed it down to what I would actually use and keep up to date.  I didn't want a book full of pages that I may or may not use so I have a "custom" binder.  In addition to my great FREE FINDS I created documents as I needed them. 

So take a look at whats inside my Homeschool Binder:

Why African American Homeschool Network?

Yesterday, I had an on-line conversation with one of my many virtual friends.  She asked me why an "African American Homeschool Network"?

So I was kind of taken back for a moment without words… and that disturbed me because I am seldomly free from thoughts or words.  I wish I had more moments like that.  Maybe I will really give mediation a try.  Anyhow less I digress anymore.  

The point that I was getting at is that I created a network for African American (bi-racial families and other ethnic minorities) because I couldn't find one.  I mean there are as many types of homeschool Networks as there are homeschool methods, styles, religions etc.  Why no network for this specific group to which I belong.  This is not to take away from the many on-line groups that I belong to because without the vast resources, advice and just encouragement that I get from them; I would not trade for the world.  

Our New Learning Space

For the past two weeks our Garage has been under renovation...and we have a new learning space.

March Madness Giveaway Day One: When the Plans Fly Out the Window

When the Plans Fly out the Window

Source

March Madness Giveaway

March Madness is here. On March 11-15, 2013 you will go on a journey to hear the great stories about the Homeschool Madness that reaps a great reward. We all know that Homeschooling is not an easy task but is an enjoyable, loving and rewarding one. Hear from other Homeschool Families as they share a glimpse of a day in the Homeschool bustle. In addition to that you will have the opportunity to enter to win some Homeschool Curriculum and resources to purchase Homeschool curriculum or supplies. Currently March Madness will be co-hosted by Encounters with Learning, Hands-on Learning: Behind the Scene and Devote and Seek!

Did You Know? African American Biographies: Lawyers and Political Leaders

 Lawyers and Political Leaders

Valentines: A Week in Review

What did you do for Valentine's this week in your Homeschool Journey?  Here's what we did:

 Monday  we made Valentines to send in the mail!

Bible Stories that End with a Hug

Bible Stories that End with a Hug!

by Stephen Elkins

What a great way to study the Bible, with Love and Hugs.  This book has 75 Bible Stories that emphasizes the love of God?

Did You Know? African American Biographies: Inventors

Inventors

March Madness- Calling all Home School Bloggers

Encounters with Learning will be hosting a March Madness Giveaway  in March. Number of days depends on number of bloggers with prizes.  Each day there will be an opportunity to enter to win a prize.

If you have a home school themed blog and would like to participate please email me as soon as possible.

Requirements:

1. Write a blog post about the day you thought you were on the verge of going mad and how you handled it.  (The idea is to encourage others in those not so happy moments)
2. Provide a prize for entering, be creative and make it worth entering.
3. Be responsible for getting your prize to the winner....consider postage when selecting your prize.

Did You Know? African American Biographies: Artists

My objective is to find Biographies that are new to me and my children.  Searching each day to find out about those that paved the way.  Yesterday we found three artist a painter, sculptor and an assemblage artist.

ARTISTS:

School Sparks: Ignite Your Child's Success in Preschool, Kindergarten and Beyond

Work Cubes

Today I tried something new. 
I created a work cube for each child.

Grieving God's Way The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing

Grieving God's Way The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing
By Margaret Brownley, Published by Thomas Nelson

Rainy Day Impromptu Painting Experience

Well it rained today… no time to go outside and play.   
We usually paint in the garage but the mouse is out there so until a conformation of its  peril….
 the garage is closed… 

 

 To protect my table an old sheet did the trick.

I Survived Week One.

Week one of homeschooling was fun and long.  Because I was sick for two weeks, I felt rushed and not prepared as I would have liked to be.   We are working on scheduling and organization….  Currently they love the schedule, me not so much.   

One Word 2013 Reposition

The year 2013 will be the year I Reposition:

• To put in a new or different position; shift 
• To change the image, marketing strategy, etc., of (a product) so as to appeal to a wider or different audience or market 
• To place in a new position 
• The return of a broken or displaced organ, or part to its normal site 
• To target (a product or brand) at a new market by changing its image

I choose this word for many reasons.  Last year was full of dismantling and displacing events.  With much reflection there is some repositioning needed on many levels and layers.  There are things that need to be placed in new positions and some things need to be placed back or restored to their  normal site. 

2013 is a year of Reposition for me in the following ways:

• I will reposition my life in a way that allows for only positive relationships
•  I will target a new market of people by projecting a positive image.
•  I will work towards repositioning my heart back to love and trust in the lord even as my heart grieves.
• I will remove myself from relationships that have proven to be toxic, even those that I love.

"If you don't like the way your life is going, redesign it. Redeem the years you lost. Restore your vision, revive your passion for living, and reclaim what was dormant inside of you. I cannot give you the dream but I can give you the tools to reach the dreams you have inside. I have seen what successful people do over and over again. I want to show you how to Reposition yourself so you can do it, too. I have learned that minor adjustments make a big difference."

-- T.D. Jakes

Do you have a word?   For more info visit one word 365 :